Sex differences in value priorities: Cross-cultural and multimethod studies.

TLDR

The study situates sex differences in value priorities within evolutionary psychology and sex role theory. The study examines sex differences in the relative importance of ten basic values. Across 77,528 participants in 70 countries, men consistently value power, stimulation, hedonism, achievement, and self‑direction more than women, while women value benevolence and universalism more; differences are modest (median d = .15), largely explained by age and culture, and are moderated by cultural context with minimal influence from sample type or measurement instrument.

Abstract

The authors assess sex differences in the importance of 10 basic values as guiding principles. Findings from 127 samples in 70 countries (N = 77,528) reveal that men attribute consistently more importance than women do to power, stimulation, hedonism, achievement, and self-direction values; the reverse is true for benevolence and universalism values and less consistently for security values. The sexes do not differ on tradition and conformity values. Sex differences are small (median d = .15; maximum d = .32 [power]) and typically explain less variance than age and much less than culture. Culture moderates all sex differences and sample type and measurement instrument have minor influences. The authors discuss compatibility of findings with evolutionary psychology and sex role theory and propose an agenda for future research.